Magnetic holding device



May 18, 1965 A. K. BEY 3,184,654

MAGNETIC HOLDING DEVICE Filed June 14, 1962 INVENTOR 4 /771 flay QZWUnited States Patent 3,184,654 MAGNETIC HOLDING DEVICE Ahmet K. Bey,1923 W. 19th St., Chicago, Ill. Filed June 14, 1962, Ser. No. 202,623 9Claims. (Cl. 317--159) The instant invention relates to magnetic holdingdevices. Particularly, it relates to magnetic apparatus adapted for useas what is commonly known in the art as base holders.

There is a frequent need for temporary anchoring of portable instrumentsand tools While they are in use, The requirement is coupled with a needfor easy removal from anchored position. Magnetic holders in the basesof tools and the like have been employed for this purpose; however,removal from the anchored or gripped position of such devices requirestugging or pulling to break the magnetic grip. Constant application ofsuch forces causes wear or stress on the portable tools which may resultin breakage thereof.

A need is present for an improved magnetic base holding apparatus whichminimizes the stress of removal from gripped positions on the device inconnection with which the same is employed. Accordingly, and as anobject of this invention, there is provided an improved magneticapparatus adapted for use as a base holder.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a magnetic apparatusadapted for use as a base holder in which the force of the magneticfield can be turned on and off.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus of theclass described in which the magnetic field can be adjusted from maximumstrength through a range of intensity down to zero.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a magnetic apparatusadapted for use as a base holder in which a permanently magnetizedmember is rotatable near a second permanently magnetized member tomagnetically energize a pair of magnetizable pole pieces of low magneticretentivity, whereby the intensity of the magnetic field may beselectively adjusted as the first magnetic member is rotated.

It is still another object of the invention to provide, in an apparatusof the described class, a first permanently magnetized member rotatablenear a second permanently magnetized member to gradually energize andde-energize magnetic pole pieces of low magnetic reluctance, the firstmagnetic member having a pair of North polar areas and a pair of Southpolar areas, with each North polar area and each South polar area beingon opposite surfaces of the first permanently magnetized member.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing description and appended claims, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings and the numerals of reference thereon.

On the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying one form of theinvention with components thereof blown apart for the purpose ofillustration.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the permanent magnets shown in FIG. 1blown apart for the purpose of illustration.

FIG, 3 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 andillustrating the gripping or On position.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional View of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 andillustrating the non-gripping or Off position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a preferred embodimentof the device or apparatus comprises a disc having a central aperture11. The disc 10 is a permanent magnet of high magnetic retentivity. Itis preferably of ceramic fabrication which facilitates and permitspolarization through the thickness of the material.

Referring to the drawings, it is observed that one semicircular portion12 of the disc 11) is polarized with the North pole on face 13 of saiddisc and the South pole on face 14 of said disc; While the othersemi-circular portion 15 of disc 10 is polarized so that the North poleis on face 14 of the said disc 10 and the South pole is on face 13 ofsaid disc. This construction results in disc 10 having a pair ofsemi-circular faces comprising face 13 with a North magnetic polarity onone of said semi-circular faces, and a South polarity on the other ofsaid semi-circular faces, with each of the poles on face 13 beingopposite an opposed pole on face 14 of disc Ill.

The foregoing construction provides an imaginary band 16 disposeddiametrically between disc portions or sectio-ns 12 and 15 which issubstantially free from consequential magnetic force. While,theoretically, band 16 is no more than the line of juncture betweenportions or sections 12 and 15, in most practical applications, theWidth of the band 16 may be wider than a mere line, withoutconsequential effect in the operation of the in stant apparatus.

A second permanent magnet 17 of high magnetic re tentivity is provided.The second magnet 17 is prefer-- ably of substantially the samethickness as the disc 10. The permanent magnet 1'7 is also preferably ofceramic fabrication which lends to the permanent magnetization throughthe thickness of the material-that is, transverse of the longitudinalaxis of magnet 17, so that the North polarity of the magnet 17 is onface 18, while the South polarity of magnet 17 is on face 19.

The permanent magnet 17 has a substantially semi-cit cular opening 26,as illustrated in FIG, 2. The radius of curvature of the semi-circularopening 20 is just slightly longer than the radius of curvature of thedisc 10. Such construction will permit approximately one semicircularportion of the disc It to be disposed in the opening 20, while the othersemi-circular portion of the disc 10 is disposed outwardly of theopening 20.

The permanent magnet 17, in the embodiment illus trated, is flat-sided.A pole piece 21 is mounted adjacent face 18, and a pole piece 22 ismounted adjacent face 19. The pole pieces 21 and 22 are fabricated froma magnetizable material, such as steel or other ferrous material, havinga low magnetic reluctance. However, the pole pieces are not magneticretainers. Thereby, the pole pieces may be readily magnetized orde-magnetized depending upon the application of magnetic energy.

The pole pieces, in the instant embodiment, are flatsided and aresecured to the respective faces of magnet 17 by suitable means, such assynthetic resin or the like, well known to those skilled in the art.

The height of the pole pieces 21 and 22 is such that, when the polepieces are mounted adjacent the magnet 17 in the desired position,magnetic gripping pole piece extensions 23 extend beyond the magnet 17,as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Each of the pole pieces has prefer ablycentral integral apertured ear-like extensions 24, one of which isclearly shown in FIG. 1 and the other of which is shown in dotted lines.The apertures of such extensions 24 are disposed in alignmentsubstantially with the center .of, and perpendicular to, the radius ofthe curve defining opening 29. This brings the extensions 24 to thelevel of the band 16 to preclude undesirable magnetic eifect on the polepieces 21 and 22 when the disc 16 is in any of the positions illustratedin the drawings, or in any other operative position.

An axle provided by a headed pin or bolt 25 extends through theapertures 25 and the aperture 11 to provide a mounting for the disc Itis appreciated that the center of disc 10, when mounted, issubstantially coincident with the center of curvature of opening 2d. T osecure the pin or bolt 26, a nut 27 is provided. Inasmuch as the bolt 26and the nut 27 are under the influence of band 16, any suitablefabrication may be employed. However, I prefer fabrication from apreferably non-magnetic material.

To facilitate a more ready understanding of the invention, I have usedthe conventional letters N" and S to designate, respectively, North andSouth poles throughout the drawings. In the operation of the device, thepole pieces 21 and 22 are energized to maximum gripping strength whenthe device is in the position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. That is tosay, when the semi-circular section 12 is substantially wholly withinthe opening 29, the North pole of magnets 17 and the North pole of face13 are adjacent each other and create or induce a North polar pole piece21. Accordingly, the South poles of face 14 and magnet 17 are adjacenteach other, creating or inducing a South polar pole piece 22. This willresult in the maximum grip being exercised on, for example, a base orother piece 28 through extensions 23 because all of the magnetic energyof the device is contained in the circuit comprising the pole pieces 21and 22.

As the disc is rotated in any direction from the position shown in FIG.3, the polarity in the pole pieces gradually diminishes because of theirlow retentivity by gradual dissipation of the magnetic effect as thesemicircular portion is brought into the opening it When substantiallythe entire semi-circular section 15 of the disc it) is in the opening20, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the dissipation of the magneticenergy in pole pieces 21 and 22 is complete, because on each sideadjacent the pole pieces in disc 10 and in the permanent magnet 17 thereare North and South magnetic fields which attract each other and,consequently, there is no gripping effect between the extensions 23 andthe base 28. Accordingly, a held tool or apparatus can be released frombase 28 without pulling.

As many changes or substitutions could be made in the above describedconstruction, and as many apparently widely different embodiments of theinvention within the scope of the claims could be constructed withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit thereof, it is intended that allmatter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpretedas being illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A magnetic device comprising a permanent magnet with opposite polesdisposed transversely of the longitudinal axis thereof; a permanentlymagnetized disc mounted for rotation of the circumference thereof in andout of said permanent magnet, said disc having North and South polesdisposed on opposed faces of said disc, and a pair of pole platesmounted adjacent the polar faces of the permanent magnet whereuponrotation of said disc the pole plates can be selectively magnetized anddepolarized.

2. A magnetic device comprising a permanent magnet having therein adepression, said permanent magnet having opposite poles disposedtransversely of the longitudinal axis thereof; a permanently magnetizedrotatably mounted disc partially disposed in and partially disposed outof said depression, said disc having on each face thereof a pair ofopposite poles with the poles on each face disposed opposite an opposingpole on the oposite face, and a pole plate secured adjacent each polarface of said permanent magnet, whereupon rotation of said disc the poleplates can be selectively polarized and depolarized.

3. A magnetic device comprising a substantially flatsided permanentmagnet having a semi-circular opening, the polarity of said permanentmagnet aligned from side to side; a disc mounted for rotation in saidopening, substantially one-half of said disc permanently magnetized witheach side of said disc having a permanent North and South pole; a pairof pole plates mounted adjacent the polar faces of said permanent magnetand limited in height to about the center of said disc, whereuponrotation of said disc said pole plates can be selectively polarized.

4. A magnetic device comprising a fiat-sided permanent magnet having asubstantially semi-circular opening and magnetized with polarity alignedtransversely to the longitudinal axis thereof; a disc having a radius ofcurvature less than the radius of curvature of the semi-circular openingand with a pair of opposite poles on each face thereof, said discmounted for rotation in said semicircular opening; magnetizable poleplates mounted adjacent the sides of said permanent magnet; anon-magetic member connecting said pole plates together and providing anaxis of rotation for said disc whereby the pole plates can beselectively polarized on rotation of said disc.

5. A magnetic device comprising a permanent magnet having asubstantially semi-circular opening and magnetized with polarity alignedtransversely to the longitudinal axis thereof; a pair of magnetizablepole plates secured adjacent the sides of said magnet; a non-magneticmember mounted in an end of said pole plates; a permanently magnetizeddisc comprising integral halves mounted on said non-magnetic member androtatable in said semi-circular opening, the polarity of each half ofsaid disc aligned through the thickness of said disc in a directionopposite to the other half thereof, whereby the magnetic energy in thepole plates can be selectively adjusted.

6. A magnetic device comprising a fiat-sided permanent magnet; a pair ofmagnetizable pole pieces secured on opposite sides of said permanentmagnet, a second permanent magnet rotatable adjacent said flat-sidedmagnet between said pole pieces, whereby the pole pieces are energizedand de-energized as said second magnet is rotated.

7. The magnetic device defined in claim 6 in which the flat-sided magnethas a substantially semi-circular opening in which the second magnet isrotatable.

8. The magnetic device defined in claim 7 in which the second magnetrotates about the center of the semi-circular opening in said flat-sidedmagnet.

9. The magnetic device defined in claim 7 in which the fiat-sided magnethas a substantially semi-circular opening about the center of which saidsecond magnet rotates; the polarity of said fiat-sided magnet alignedtransverse to the plane of rotation of the second magnet, each side ofthe second magnet having a North and a South polar area opposite adissimilar magnet area on the other side of said second magnet.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,972,485 2/61Ferchland 317159 3,079,535 2/63 Schultz 317201 JOHN F. BURNS, PrimaryExaminer.

E. JAMES SAX, Examiner.

1. A MAGNETIC DEVICE COMPRISING A PERMANENT MAGNET WITH OPPOSITE POLESDISPOSED TRANSVERSELY OF THE LONGITUDINALLY AXIS THEREOF; A PERMANENTLYMAGNETIZED DISC MOUNTED FOR ROTATION OF THE CIRCUMFERENCE THEREOF IN ANDOUT OF SAID PERMANENT MAGNET, SAID DISC HAVING NORTH AND SOUTH POLESDISPOSED ON OPPOSED FACES OF SAID DISC, AND A PAIR OF POLE PLATESMOUNTED ADJACENT THE POLAR FACES OF THE PERMANENT MAGNET WHEREUPONROTATION OF SAID DISC THE POLE PLATES CAN BE SELECTIVELY MAGNETIZED ANDDEPOLARIZED.